Bailey & Galyen Features Catastrophic Injury Attorney Kern Lewis on The Legal Hour

Michael Galyen talks with Kern Lewis about his path to law and stories from nearly 40 years of trial work.

DFW, TX, UNITED STATES, October 14, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Bailey & Galyen is spotlighting “Getting to Know Kern Lewis: Stories, Career & Catastrophic Injury Law,” an episode of The Legal Hour featuring Kern Lewis, Director of Catastrophic Injury at the firm. In a personal conversation, Lewis discusses his background, his path to becoming a trial lawyer, and lessons from decades in the courtroom.

Hosted by Michael Galyen, the episode gives listeners a closer look at the attorney who handles some of the firm’s most serious injury cases. Lewis is board-certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). He earned his undergraduate degree from Abilene Christian University and his law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law.

Lewis shares how a last-minute decision shaped his career. After finishing at ACU, he had a scholarship to Pepperdine Law School in Malibu and was weeks away from moving to California. A lunch arranged by one of his professors with Jack Pope, then Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court, changed his plans. When Lewis said he wanted to try cases, Pope encouraged him to attend Texas Tech instead.

At Texas Tech, Lewis found his calling through the school’s trial advocacy programs. He competed on both the mock trial team, which simulates jury trials with witnesses and arguments, and the moot court team, which simulates appellate arguments before a panel of judges. Those experiences convinced him he wanted to be a litigator.

Galyen and Lewis discuss how the practice of law has changed. Lewis explains that rising litigation costs mean fewer cases reach trial today, which makes courtroom experience harder for young lawyers to gain. When he started practicing, his firm tried so many cases that a judge swore him in as a lawyer the same morning he began a trial.

The conversation turns to what Lewis has learned in front of juries. He says that he relies less on scripted questions than he did early in his career. Listening closely to a witness, he says, often reveals a word or detail that leads to better follow-up questions.

“I found that being conversational is one of the most effective ways to question a witness,” Lewis said.

Lewis shares stories from past trials, including a case on behalf of the family of a homeless man who died in jail after receiving poor medical care for pneumonia. When the defense downplayed the value of the man’s life, Lewis used the parable of the prodigal son in his closing argument to show that his parents never stopped hoping he would come home. In a medical malpractice case involving a bullet that an emergency room missed, Lewis had a 3D-printed skull made from the patient’s CT scan so jurors could see and feel the bullet for themselves.

The episode closes with a discussion of courtroom strategy, including why Lewis objects sparingly during trial and how cases sometimes settle at the last moment. According to Lewis, the moment a defense team sees who will sit on the jury can change how they view a case.

The Legal Hour is Bailey & Galyen’s podcast and video series featuring conversations about legal issues and other topics that affect individuals and families. Hosted by Michael Galyen, the series brings attorneys and other professionals together to share information and perspectives related to issues Bailey & Galyen clients and communities may encounter.

About Bailey & Galyen
One of the Lone Star State’s largest premier consumer law firms, Bailey & Galyen has been effectively Solving Your Legal Puzzle^® for more than 40 years. With 24 locations across the state of Texas, and in New Mexico, Colorado, and Arkansas, Bailey & Galyen provides affordable and aggressive advocacy in matters involving Personal Injury, Workers’ Compensation, Family Law, Divorce, Business Litigation, Criminal Defense, and other legal matters. Known for its commitment to 100% client satisfaction, the firm has received more than 6,000 five-star reviews on Google. For more information, call (855) 810-7010 or visit www.thetexasattorney.com.

Phillip Galyen
Bailey & Galyen
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